Reuters: New push for infrastructure funding in US jobs bill
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2116302120100121
Separately, Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell planned to push top White House economic advisers on Thursday to embrace the creation of a national infrastructure bank, an independent institution that would finance capital works projects.  Rendell told Reuters in an interview that a coalition of supporters that include transportation trade associations are pushing for the bank proposal to be included in the legislative package. They believe a well capitalized program would streamline infrastructure funding and financing, attract private investment, simulate broad sectors of the economy and create jobs.  "We want to get the bank up and running," Rendell said, noting strong interest from investment banks and hedge funds in partnering with the government on infrastructure upgrades. "We don't want to lose time on this."

Journal of Commerce: Rendell Pushes For National Infrastructure Bank
http://www.joc.com/node/416191
Scott Brown’s election victory in Massachusetts was a clear signal to Washington that Americans want politicians to focus their attention on job creation, Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell said Thursday.  Rendell, a founder of the Building America’s Future coalition, told a small audience at the Center for National Policy that one sure-fire way to create jobs is through rehabilitating the nation’s infrastructure. Creation of a national infrastructure bank was a major part of the solution, Rendell said.  Rebuilding infrastructure – from water systems and electrical grids to seaports – will cost the nation $4 trillion over 10 years, but “the deficit makes it harder to invest at the levels that are needed,” he said.  Rendell said the infrastructure bank would concentrate federal funds and private sector investment, and focus them toward projects of the greatest national and regional significance.